2001 Nissan Maxima Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the front air bag warning light coming on or staying on, and about a knocking or banging noise from the front suspension that several describe as matching a recalled front lower control arm. Brake vibration and repeated warped front rotors appear frequently and at low mileage, while reports of stalling, a rough idle and check-engine lights attributed to an idle air control valve and engine computer recur across the sample. Many complaints arrive well past 70,000 miles, though the brake and suspension reports tend to come earlier.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front lower control arm knock and loose steering

   Mentioned in 12 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a knocking or banging from the front end over bumps, along with vague or wandering steering and, in some cases, the car pulling to one side. Repair shops and dealers diagnosed a failed front lower control arm or transverse link. Several owners say they were told their vehicle was not covered by the lower-control-arm recall because of its VIN, even though the symptom sounded the same. Most reports fall between about 32,000 and 127,000 miles, often noticed on rough roads.

   Recall 02V1460002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive over rough pavement and listen for clunks, then ask whether recall 02V146000 was performed for this VIN. Have a shop inspect the front lower control arm pins and bushings before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had a continuous problem with my 2001 Nissan Maxima cold start sensor and the dealer says no recall has been issued. Has anyone else reported this problem? Also, I was never sent a recall for the suspension, control arm: lower arm. Is it to late to have this replaced? Why was I not contacted or why dealer didn't notify me? What can I do because my front end is making noises?”

   NHTSA complaint #10093936, filed 2004-10, 22,000 miles

   “Vehicle wasn't part of the recall regarding the suspension due to the VIN, but experienced the problem stated on the recall. The vehicle had to get a realignment, the bottom cover was loose and the vehicle constantly pulled to the right/left and there was an alternator problem where the battery did not charge. The consumer requested assistance with getting the vehicle fully checked since the problems encountered occurred during the warranty period. Recall#02v146000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10051667, filed 2003-12, 14,125 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Stalling, rough idle and check-engine light

   • 42 complaints (24%)
   • median 72,500 mi at 6.5 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,100 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2014

   Owners describe the engine stalling at speed or when pulling away, rough or high idle, surging, and the check-engine light coming on. In several reports the cause was given as a failed idle air control valve, which some say also damaged the engine computer. Others describe repeated misfires traced to ignition coils, and some had oxygen sensors, motor mounts or the catalytic converter replaced. Reports range from about 22,000 to 160,000 miles, and several mention repeat failures after the first repair.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the idle air control valve, engine computer or ignition coils have been replaced, and scan the car for stored fault codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In feb. 2008, my Maxima 2001, with 55000 miles, stalled out at a stop light--it would start up again but then stalled out when I tried to go. It was towed to the dealership, and the iac valve and the ECM were both replaced for about $1700. Then, on oct. 20, 2008, 8 months later with the mileage just under 60,000 miles, the same thing happened but it was preceded by a smell of burning rubber. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10249198, filed 2008-11, 54,888 miles

   “Check engine light comes over ever 5 months. Every time its a cylinder misfire because of one or more ignition coils. This started happening since 40,000 miles. When a engine misfires the car sputters and the ces light comes on. This just keeps happening and I've spent over $2000 for just this same issue. The incident date posted is the last time this happened but this has been happening since 2004.”

   NHTSA complaint #10216817, filed 2008-02, 51,231 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on or flashing

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the air bag or occupant restraint warning lamp lighting or flashing, sometimes shortly after a recall repair, and sometimes intermittently when a passenger is present. Diagnoses in the complaints include a reset of the light, replacement of the air bag module, or the restraint control unit. A few owners describe collisions in which the air bags did not deploy, and others were told their VIN fell outside the air bag recalls. Reports are spread from very low mileage up past 170,000 miles, with no clear mileage pattern.

   Recall 20V008000Recall 15V2870002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the light comes on briefly and then goes out when the car is started, and ask for proof that recalls 20V008000 and 15V287000 were completed for this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall hi, the reason why I'm writing is I had a recall quite some time ago about a year maybe and it was done but a week later it came back on the dash flashing and it still flashing and I do know that this should not be on like this so I need to know if there is a recall for this, if so could you please set up an appointment so I can fill safe while driving.thank you so much and I look to hearing from you soon.”

   NHTSA complaint #11053324, filed 2017-12, 128,478 miles

   “I was traveling on south bowens mill rd. In douglas ga when a vehicle that have on their turn signal involved me hitting the back of her vehicle. There wasn't much damage to her vehicle but my vehicle was damaged severely. The airbag should've came out but didn't. In 2015, I received a notice from Nissan stating that there was a recall on Nissan airbags, so I immediately took my car to the Nissan dealership in tifton, ga. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10882361, filed 2016-07, 239,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Front brake rotor vibration and warping

   • 17 complaints (10%)
   • median 21,750 mi at 2.7 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2002–2011

   Owners describe the steering wheel or pedal shaking when braking, most noticeable at highway speeds, traced to warped or overheated front rotors. Many had rotors resurfaced or replaced, in some cases more than once within the first 30,000 miles, and some say the dealer declined to cover the work under warranty. A few also mention brake noise that recurred after repairs. Often reported under about 50,000 miles, with several cases in the first 15,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Brake firmly from highway speed during the test drive and feel for wheel shake. Ask whether the front rotors have been replaced or resurfaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rotors warp and cause steering to shake when brakes applied - on my Maxima I have needed to have the disks turned 3 times (1st time at 13k miles) and then the rotors replaced before I had 30k miles on my car. Now at 44500 I need to get the disks turned again. I had a 98 Maxima before the 01 and never had to get work.”

   NHTSA complaint #10021453, filed 2003-06, 28,000 miles

   “The rotors malfunctioned, causing them to warp. When the rotors warped and the brake pedal was depressed steering wheel shook. The faster vehicle was driven and when the brake pedal was depressed the worse the steering wheel shook. This could result in consumer losing control of the vehicle. Dealership resurfaced the rotors, but they warped again within 17,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10068557, filed 2004-04, 43,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Rust at the front radiator support

   • 6 complaints (3%)
   • median 118,500 mi at 12.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2009–2017

   Owners report corrosion of the lower radiator support and surrounding front structure, sometimes found during routine inspection or after a rattle from the front of the car. One owner described large holes in the beam where the engine support and hood latch are bolted. Repairs described in the complaints involved replacing or repairing the front structure at significant cost. Reported from roughly 57,000 to 152,000 miles on older vehicles, and one owner ties it to roughly four to five years from new.

   What to check: Look under the front of the car at the radiator support beam and bolts for rust or flaking metal, especially on cars from snowy or coastal areas.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After hearing a rattle in the front of the car, I found that the frame support under the radiator was severely rusted and full of large holes for about 8 inches at the center of the beam. This point in the beam is where the engine support beam and front hood latch support are bolted. I brought the car to a local body shop which told me that they had repaired 'numerous' Nissan Maxima's with the exact same issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10430880, filed 2011-10, 57,253 miles

   “The lower radiator support bar and surrounding lower structure started rusting away after about 4-5 years from new. The lower radiator support is now almost entirely gone. The dealer quoted $5400 to repair. I was told by the service rep that if/when the core support let go, the engine could fall causing a wreck.”

   NHTSA complaint #11039848, filed 2017-10, 12,000 miles

Buying note. Check that the air bag recalls and the front lower control arm recall were completed for the specific VIN, since several owners report symptoms the recalls describe but outside the covered range. Have a shop inspect the front suspension, front structure for rust, and brakes before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.